Community Support Programs Branch

Evaluation of Consumer Technical Assistance Centers

Starting in 2001, the Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS) contracted for an external evaluation of the consumer technical assistance centers (TACs). The evaluation met the reporting requirements for the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) and Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART), and examined the efficacy, quality, and effectiveness of the TACs’ activities.

The last evaluation, which took place in September 2004, demonstrated that TACs:

Have a wide outreach into the community,
Make a significant number of referrals to professionals, and
Are the source of substantial materials and information to their constituents.

Other findings:

1,113 individuals contacted the TACs during the month of the evaluation and made 1,586 requests for technical assistance.
The users of the TACs made 1,964 topical requests, of which 54.5 percent were about clinical issues (e.g., medications, ECT, seclusion and restraint, assertive community treatment, psychotherapy/counseling, recovery/self-help practices, co-occurring disorders and substance abuse and/or treatment).
43 percent of the individual requests for technical assistance were from consumers; 22 percent were from family members.
Of the 329 organizations that requested technical assistance,
- 21.0 percent were from consumer-run organizations or groups,
- 17.0 percent were from National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) or National Mental Health Association (NMHA) affiliates;
- 12.8 percent from state, county, or local mental health authorities;
- 11.6 percent from provider organizations; and
- 11.2 percent from academic institutions.

Key Program Accomplishments

Developed self-care/self-management training materials used to work with consumers who have difficulty in obtaining relief from their symptoms.
Created access to numerous articles, books, audio-/videotapes/DVDs on self-care and self-management via mail and websites.
Contributed to the employment of individuals with mental illnesses by developing peer specialist materials and increasing awareness of the importance of reimbursement for peer specialists.
Assisted states with crafting job descriptions as part of the development of peer specialist initiatives and worked with several community colleges to create certificates in peer support.
Conducted workshops and developed materials on establishing a 501(c)3, fundraising, and capacity building.
Provided nonprofit governance trainings on the roles of boards and CEOs.
Assisted emerging consumer organizations in states where statewide consumer networks are absent.
Translated resources and publications reviewed for cultural competence, developed and conducted bilingual trainings, provided assistance to monolingual Spanish speakers in finding peer and family support groups, and collaborated to create skill-development workshops for Latino peer providers.
Provided assistance to board members of the National Latino Behavioral Health Association on engaging Latino consumers.
Sponsored a mini-conference for community psychiatrists to educate them about recovery and peer support.